Toy engine starter employing elastic element



'March 10, 1959 J. M. BARR 2,876,866

TOY ENGINE STARTER EMPLOYING ELASTIC ELEMENT Filed Feb. 5, 1958 29 30 30 /4 1 r/ /8 /5 w Z- JOE/4H MW/P/SO/V 54m,

INVEN TOR.

WHA/V/V & MCMAN/GAL Afforneys for A ilkaw/ United StatesPatenrQ TOY ENGINE STARTER EMPLOYING ELASTIC ELEMENT Josiah Morrison Barr, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Wen-Mac Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February s, 1958, Serial No. 713,414

9 Claims. c1. 185-41) of this type requires a rapid spinning of the engine shaft in forward direction which is difficult to attain by appli cation of a finger of the operator to the airplane propeller to rotate the same.

, It is an object of the invention to provide a toy engine starter wherein the force for rotating the engine shaft forwardly is derived from a simple and inexpensive elastic member which may be a rubber loop, such as a rubber band or a rubber ring commonly known as an O-ring. The invention provides means for connecting a portion of the elastic member to the engine, in such position that when it is not in use for starting purposes it will be re-' tracted, and therefore, spaced from the revolving propeller. The invention provides means for connecting another' portion of the elastic member, referred to as the front portion or front end eccentrically to .the crankshaft of the engine so that as the crankshaft is revolved in reverse direction, the forward portion of the elastic member will be wound around the shaft and force will be built up in the elastic member as it is stretched tending to revolve the shaft in forward, engine starting, direction. When the rearward rotational force is thereafter released from the shaft so that the shaft is free to turn in the forward direction, the tension in the stretched elastic member will act to revolve the shaft in forward direction with such rapidity that the engine shaft will be caused to spin through a number of complete revolutions, effecting a number of compression cycles of the piston of the engine which will quickly-start the engine providing that the other factors of fuel mixture and ignition are present.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy engine starter having an elongated member at least a portion of which is elastic and means for detachably connecting a portion of this elongated member to the shaft so that the elongated member will be wound upon the shaft when it ,isturned in rearward direction. 1

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective starter for toy engines consisting of a rotatable means such as a spool connected to the shaft so as to' rotate therewith, this spool having thereon a projection over which a portion of an elastic loop may be hooked,

there being means for connecting another portion of the loop to the engine so that as the spool is rotated in reverse direction the elastic loop will be stretched as a portion of it is wound around the spool, the force exerted by the elastic loop in attempting to return to its initial," relaxed state, effecting starting rotation of the spool and defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view of a toy engine equipped with the invention in dormant condition;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but show ing the initial step of detachably connecting the elastic member to the spool which is mounted on the engine shaft; 7 j

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the engine with the for-f ward portion of the elastic member wound on the spool; and

Fig. 5 is a face view, to reduced scale, of the elongated elastic member of the invention.

' reciprocation of the piston, not shown, with the rotation of the disc 11. From this crank mechanism a shaft 15 extends outwardly through an opening 16 in the crankcase 17 of the engine 10 for transmitting rotation to the part which is to be driven. In the present disclosure, the, engine 10 drives a toy propeller 18 which is fixed on the.

end of the shaft by a nut 19. The invention'provides an elongated member 20, at least a portion of which is elastic; so that the member 20 may be stretched longitudinally.

I In theform of the invention disclosed the member 20 is a band or loop of rubbery substance, such as a rubber compound. For convenience, the elastic member 20 is obtained in the form of a rubber ring known to the trade as an O-ring and has the appearance shown in Fig. .5.' The engine 10 has thereon a mounting flange 21' to which therear portion 22 of the flexible member 20 is connected by a plate 23 which is connected to the flange 21 by a screw 24 and has spaced notches 25 through which adjacent parts of the rear portion 22 of the member 20, -are. passed, supporting the member 20 so that its front end. or portion 26 is in retracted position. That is to say, the, front end 26 of the member 20 is positioned rearwardly; of the plane in which the blades of the propeller 18, rotate, and therefore, will not interfere with the rotation.

,- of the propeller.

.The invention provides means 27 for detachably con-i necting the front end 26 of the elastic member 20 to theishaft 15 in such a manner that rotation of the shaft 15.; in reverse direction will wind a portion of the member 20 around the shaft as will be later described. The connecting' means 27 includes a spool 28 which is fixed on a. projecting portion of the shaft 15 contiguous to the front end of the engine 10. A pin 29 projects outwardly from. the peripheral face of the spool 28 between the flanges. 30 thereof. This pin 29 provides a projecting member over which the front end 26 of the band or loop 20 may be placed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I

-To-accomplish this initial step in the operation of the. starter, the propeller 18 is rotated from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 through an angle of approxifl spool-28 as the position of the pin 29 moves in-clockwise', direction around the axis of the shaft 15. The operator accuse manually rotates the propeller 18 in clockwise direction,

thereby revolving the spool 28 in clockwise direction, winding the forward portion 32 of the elastic member 20 upon the spool 28; as: shown in Fig. 4; Ordinarilythe spool 28 will be revolved through one andone-quarter turns in clockwise direction so that the pin 29 will be moved from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2,, to-the position in which it is-shown in Fig. 4. v

The invention also provides guide means 35 engaging an, intermediate portion of the member 20 so that the end portion 32 of the member 20 will extend along or approaimately coincide with a normallplane projecting through a portion of the spool 28. In Fig. 4, a plane pa -p is indicated. That portion 32:: of the elastic member 20 which extends from the lower extremity of the guide means 35. coincides with this plane 1- andthe stretched portion of the elastic member 20 is maintainedin'optir'num position for rotating the spool 28 and the shaft, 15 in forward direction,

The guide means 35 consist of a stiff wire 37 bent so as to provide a pair of legs 38 and 39,, the upper ends of which are secured to laterally projecting. flanges 40 which are formed on opposite sides of the engine crankcase 17,, and a transverse arched portion 41 having roller means 42 thereon consisting of a short length of plastic tubing which will rotate as the elastic member 20 is pulled thereacross from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the positions thereof shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When the rearward rotational force, which has been applied to the shaft so as to rotate the same in rearward direction and wind the portion 32 of the elastic member thereon, is released,', the tension built up in the member 20 as the result of stretching the same willroturn the member 20 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 to its retracted position, shown in Fig. l, and. the shaft will be rotated in forward (counterclockwise) direction at relatively high velocity capableof'efi'ecting starting of the engine.

' I claim:

I. In a starter for an internal combustion engine hav' ing a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: an elongated elastic member; means for connecting" the rear end of said elastic member relative to the engine with the front end of said elastic member in retractcd position; and detachable engagement means for connecting the front end of said elastic member eccentrically to said engine shaft so that as a rearward rotational force is applied to said shaft and said shaft is thereby rotated in reverse direction, said elastic member will be stretched and a portion. thereof wound around said shaft to apply to said shaft a torque which will'rotate said. shaft: in forward, engine starting, direction uponrelease of said. rearward rotational force from said shaft.

' '2. In a starter for an internal combustion engine having a shaft connected to the crank mechanismof the engine: an elongated elastic member; means for connecting the rear end of said elastic member relative to the engine with the front end of said elastic member in retracted position; rotatable means connected to said shaft; and detachable engagement means for connecting the front end ofsaid elastic member to said rotatable means so that as a rearward force applied to said rotatable means rotates the same in rearward direction, a portion of said elastic member will be wound upon said rotatable means and said elastic member will be thereby stretched and will apply torque to said rotatable means to efi'ect forward, engine starting, rotation thereof upon release of the application of said rearward force to said rotatable means.

3. In a starter for an internal combustion engine having a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: anelongated member, at least a portion. of which is-elast-ic; means for connecting the rear end of engagement means for connecting the front-eud-pf said elastic member eccentrically to said engine shaft so that as a rearward rotational force is applied to said shaft and said shaft is thereby rotated in reverse direction, said elastic member will be stretched and a portion thereof wound around said shaft to apply to said shaft a torque which will rotate said shaft in forward, engine starting, direction upon release of said rearward rotational force form said shaft; and a guide engaging an intermediate portion of said elastic member.

4. 1n a starter for an internal combustion engine haw ing a shaft connected to; the crank mechanism of the engine: an elongated member, at least a portion of which is elastic; means for. connecting the rear end of said 1 said rotatable means to effect forward, engine starting,

rotation thereof upon release of the application of said rearward force to said rotatable means; and a guide engaging an intermediate portion of said elastic member.

5. In a starter for an internal combustion engine hav-v ing a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: an elongated member, at least a portion of which is elastic; means for connecting the rear end of said elastic member relative to the engine with the front end of, said elastic member in retracted position; a spool connected to said shaft and having forward and rearward rotation; and a projection on said spool with which the front end of said elastic membermay be engaged so that rearward rotational force applied to said spool will rotate the same in rea'rwarddirection and wind a portion of said elastic member upon said spool, stretching the same so as to produce therein a force tending to rotate said spool in forward, engine starting, direction upon release from said spool of said rearward rotational force.

6. In a starter for an internal combustion engine having a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: an elongated elastic member; means for connecting the rear end. of said elastic member relative to the engine with the front end of said elastic member in re tracted position; a spool connected to said shaft and having forward and rearward rotation; a projection on said spool with which the front end of said elasticvmember maybe engaged so that rearward rotational force applied to said spool will rotate the same in rearward direction and wind a portion of said elastic member upon said spool, stretching the same so as to produce therein a force tending to rotate said spool in forward, engine starting, direction upon release from said spool of said rearward rotational force; and a guide engaging an intermediate portion of said elastic member.

7. In a starter for an internal combustion engine having a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: an elastic member comprising a loop of elastic rubbery substance; means for connecting the rear end of said elastic member to the engine with the front end of said elastic member in retracted position; and detachable engagement means for connecting the front end of said elastic member eccentrically to said engine shaft so that .as a rearward rotational force is applied to said shaft and said shaft is thereby rotated in reverse direction, said elastic member will be stretched and a portion thereof wound'around said shaft to apply to said shaft a torque which will rotate shaft in forward, engine starting, direction upon: release of said rearward rota:

tional force from said shaft. v J 8. In a starter for an internal combustion euginehaving a shaft connected tothe crank mechanism of the engine; an elastic member comprising a loop of elasticrubbery substance; means for connecting the rear end of said elastic member to the engine with the front end of said elastic member in retracted position; a spool connected to said shaft and having forward and rearward rotation; and a projection on said spool with which front end of said elastic member may be engaged so that rearward rotational force applied to said spool will rotate the same in rearward direction and wind a portion of said elastic member upon said spool, stretching the same so as to produce therein a force tending to rotate said spool in forward, engine starting, direction upon release from said spool of said rearward rotational force.

9. In a starter for an internal combustion engine having a shaft connected to the crank mechanism of the engine: an elastic member comprising a loop of elastic rubbery substance; means for connecting the rear portion of said loop to a part of the engine spaced from the front end thereof;- a spool connected to said shaft and having forward and rearward rotation; a projection on said spool over which the front portion of said loop may be placed so that rearward rotation of said spool will wind the front portion of said loop thereon, creating in said loop a tension tending to rotate said spool in forward, engine starting, direction; and a guide for said loop disposed in a position between said spool and said means for connecting the rear portion of said loop to said engine, said guide being spaced radially outwardly from said spool so that the portion of said loop Which passes from said guide to said spool will lie close to a normal plane which passes through said spool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

